Multicompartment hot water tank

ABSTRACT

A versatile hot water tank has a plurality of compartments, each separated by a partition, each containing a heating means and each connected to the other by a connecting pipe so that water can circulate betwen compartments.

This application claims priority based on provisional application 60/486,258 filed Jul. 11, 2003 for claim 1 to 3.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

This invention relates generally to hot water tank but more particularly to a hot water tank having a plurality of interconnected compartments.

2. Background

Hot water tanks have not evolved much in many years. Whether they are gas, oil or electric, they are basically large reservoirs containing water and means for warming water. In the case of electric water tanks, a lower and an upper element alternate to keep the water evenly warm. An emergency vent on top handles high pressure while a drain at the bottom is used when emptying the tank.

Over the years, a variety of accessories have been developped to complement the features of a hot water tank such as timers to start and stop water heating as an energy saving feature and humidity alarms to detect water leaks and shut off water intake to the tank.

But there are many other issues that have yet to be addressed and therefore, there is a need for an improved hot water tank.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

It is a main object of this invention to provide a hot water tank with a plurality of interconnected compartments which progressively warm up the water so as to provide a more economical hot water tank.

In order to do so, the present invention consists of a hot water tank contained within a container or sleeve which provides increased insulation as well as a safety in case of leaks. The sleeve has a top removable lid which allows for the removal of the inside compartments and related hardware so as to minimize the amount of disposable material thus producing a more ecologically friendly hot water tank. Of course, such an advantage as a sleeve with a top removable lid could be found on a single compartment tank but would lose some of the advantages of a multicompartment tank. Optionally, features such as a humidity detector can warn of a leak and send a signal to electromechanically shut off the water supply to the tank and a timer can be programmed for partially or totally shut off water heating at selected times.

One advantage of a multicompartment tank is that only one compartment need to be heated to provide on demand hot water during off peak hours, such as nighttime wherein water from other compartments could be left unheated in order to provide further energy savings while at the same time providing a quicker warmup time since each compartment has its own heating means. Heating means referring to generally known means of generating or transferring heat to water such as, but not limited to, electricity, gas, oil, wood, coal, combustible solids, solar, geothermal, nuclear and so forth.

The foregoing and other objects, features, and advantages of this invention will become more readily apparent from the following detailed description of a preferred embodiment with reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein the preferred embodiment of the invention is shown and described, by way of examples such as illustrating 3 compartments whereas as little as two and as many as an infinite number of compartments are defined as <<multicompartments>>. As will be realized, the invention is capable of other and different embodiments, and its several details are capable of modifications in various obvious respects, all without departing from the invention. Accordingly, the drawings and description are to be regarded as illustrative in nature, and not as restrictive.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

FIG. 1 Side cutaway elevation of a first example embodiment of a hot water tank.

FIG. 2 Side cutaway elevation of a second example embodiment of a hot water tank.

FIG. 3 Side elevation of a heat trap.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

A versatile hot water tank (10) has a plurality of compartments (12,12′,12″), each separated by a partition (14), each containing a heating means (11), each contained within a sleeve (13) having a removable lid (15), and each connected to the other by a connecting pipe (16, 16′) of a diameter equivalent to a water inlet pipe (18) or a water outlet pipe (20) so that water can circulate betwen compartments (12, 12′, 12″) as fast as it can be taken in by the water inlet pipe (18) or taken out by the water outlet pipe (20).

Cold water travels downward from the uppermost compartment (12) where it becomes warm, by way of the connecting pipe (16) to the middle compartment (12′) where it becomes warmer and from there to the lowermost compartment (12″), by way of the connecting pipe (16′) where it is heated to a typical hot water tank temperature. From the lowermost compartment (12″) it is taken out by the outlet pipe (20).

FIG. 3 To reduce water's tendency to migrate between compartments (12, 12′, 12″), heat traps (22) are set on connecting pipes (16, 16′). A heat traps (22) is designd to create an eddy which slows down water circulation, thus slowing down migration. It consists of two ends (23, 23′) interfacing with a pipe, in this case, it is the connecting pipe. (16, 16′) which is sectioned off to allow insertion of the heat trap (22); two generally parallel pipe segments (25, 25′) and joining segments (27, 27′).

When a user uses hot water, the water will be taken from the lowermost compartment (12″) which will require water from the middle compartment (12′) to replenish it. Therefore, water in the connecting pipes (16, 16′) will travel from a higher compartment, whether the uppermost compartment (12) or the middle compartment (12′), towards a lower compartment, whether the middle compartment (12′) or the lowermost compartment (12″). But when no one uses the water, warmer water will tend to migrate, by way of the connecting pipes (16, 16′), from the lower compartments, where it is warmer, to higher compartments, where it is cooler. In order to slow down the migration, a heat trap (22) is placed within the path of the connecting pipe (16, 16′). Because of the two paths water can take in the pipe segments (25, 25′), along with the direction as indicated by the arrows, an eddy is created by conflicting tendencies of water having different temperatures. For example, warm water does not want to travel downwards as it is forced to do in the pipe segment (25) but it wants to go up as it does in the pipe segment (25′), which creates an eddy which in turn tends to draw cooler water rather than letting warmer water migrate towards cooler water. There is still transfer of heat but it is slowed down.

A heat trap (22) can be used on standard hot water tanks as well as any type of plumbing where heat transfer needs to be slowed down and can therefore have applications well beyond the application discussed in this instant invention.

FIG. 2 shows an example of asecond example of an embodiment of the hot water tank (10) which can include the heat traps (22) but where the connecting pipes (16, 16′) run inside the compartments instead of outside as per the embodiment of FIG. 1.

The optional features such as humidity detector (not shown) can be found inside the sleeve (13) with water shut off (not shown) and timer (both not shown), to control heating cycles, on or near the tank (10) itself. The lid (15) on the sleeve (13) can be fastened onto the sleeve (13) by way of any type of mechanical fasteners adequate for securedly attaching the lid (15) in a non permanent manner so as to make it removable. 

1. A versatile hot water tank comprising: a plurality of compartments, each separated by a partition and each connected to the other by a connecting pipe; water traveling downward from the uppermost compartment to the next lowest compartment by way of a connecting pipe.
 2. A versatile hot water tank as in claim 1 wherein: said compartments along with related hardware found inside a sleeve having a top removable lid.
 3. A versatile hot water tank as in claim 1 further comprising: a humidity detector an electromechanical water shut off and a timer to control heating cycles.
 4. A versatile hot water tank as in claim 1 wherein: a heat trap placed on at least one connecting pipe to slow down water migration and comprising two ends interfacing with said connecting pipe and said connecting pipe sectioned off to allow insertion of said heat trap; two generally parallel pipe segments; and joining segments.
 5. A versatile hot water tank comprising: a plurality of compartments, each separated by a partition and each connected to the other by a connecting pipe; water traveling downward from the uppermost compartment to the next lowest compartment by way of a connecting pipe; said compartments along with related hardware found inside a sleeve having a top removable lid; a humidity detector an electromechanical water shut off and a timer to control heating cycles.
 6. A versatile hot water tank comprising: a plurality of compartments, each separated by a partition and each connected to the other by a connecting pipe; water traveling downward from the uppermost compartment to the next lowest compartment by way of a connecting pipe; said compartments along with related hardware found inside a sleeve having a top removable lid; a humidity detector with water shut off and a timer to control heating cycles; a heat trap placed on at least one connecting pipe to slow down water migration and comprising two ends interfacing with said connecting pipe and said connecting pipe sectioned off to allow insertion of said heat trap; two generally parallel pipe segments; and joining segments.
 7. Heat traps to slow down water migration comprising: two ends interfacing with a connecting pipe and said connecting pipe sectioned off to allow insertion of said heat trap; two generally parallel pipe segments; and joining segments. 